If women see STEM positions as inhospitable working environments, online or otherwise, then it is our responsibility to work toward creating inclusive environments conducive to work by all. YouTube is only part of a much larger struggle toward equality in the workplace.

In my experience, I have been asked everything from if I have a stylist, to if I dress “nerdy” to better fit in my “role,” to what my reaction would be if approached to pose for Playboy. Scientists who take pride in their appearance should not also have to worry about their discoveries and accomplishments being undermined by questions about where they get their clothes or if they would consider increasing the popularity of their published works by taking those clothes off.

If we want to see diversity in these fields, there has to be a conscious rejection of and intolerance toward remarks in the media that diminish these achievements.

Corundum, also affectionately referred to as sapphire, is a rock-forming mineral composed of aluminum oxide, and is mined from alluvial deposits. It’s gorgeous on its own natural and unpolished, so there’s no wonder that we have found ways to cut and shape it to our liking.

ehmeegeethebrainscoop I opened my college newspaper today and freaked out when I saw that you are in it!! Bill Nye just did a lecture at my small college, Elmhurst College, and the article recommends The Brain Scoop, MinutePhysics, and Veritasium as things to watch if you’re a Bill Nye fan! I’ve never been more proud of my newspaper; they really did their research!

In the late 20’s Early 30’s there was a class at the Art Institute of Chicago that had its students come to the Field Museum to study and draw inspiration from our collections. This is one of many pieces featured in a book of their drawings. Today we have a similar program with artist in residence Peggy Macnamara who is also a teacher at the Art Institute. You will often see students in chairs sketching away.

Seriously, Emily is so wonderfully passionate about her job and that natural sciences. And she’s hilarious too! The meet and greet was really chill and Emily was so gracious, and smart, and genuine about everything. ( I also learned that female caribou have antlers to move the snow away so they can eat grass, NEAT) She told the group that a majority of the researches that work there and and undergraduate in art. Which just totes mcgoats cool.

Any way, it was an awesome day; one of the best I’ve ever had. I got to meet a role model of mine.

There’s this lab down the hall… I think they might be housing a puma… or an ocelot or some kind of killer… The Field Museum is no longer safe… Or this could just be the newish hideout for the thebrainscoop you never know

It doesn’t quite have all the colors of the rainbow, but it’s not far off. Field Museum and University of Chicago graduate student Shane Dubay caught this Gould’s Sunbird (Aethophyga gouldiae) during his recent field season in the mountains of Sichuan, China.

I feel the need to clarify this image a bit after posting it on Instagram yesterday.

This is a representation of the many species of migratory birds that die flying into downtown Chicago buildings each year. There are more than 70 different species represented, but as many as 2,000 individual birds collide with windows on their routes in the Chicago downtown area alone. Although this is a beautiful image, it is not really what I would call ‘cool’ or 'neat’.

These birds are not stupid. This is not an example of natural selection. This is a visual representation of the massive amount of impact that we as humans have on the environment around us. It is an indicator that we are in their way, not vice versa. It is ingrained within their DNA that the paths they are following are tried and true, and the safest ways to get from point A to point B each season. For thousands of years these species have followed the shore of Lake Michigan on their annual routes. They cannot see the windows of the high rise buildings because sky scrapers have not existed as long as these birds have been passing through this area, and it is unreasonable for us to expect them to adapt around architectural additions.

The Chicago Bird Collision Monitors is made up of a large group of volunteers that monitor collisions and fatalities of these birds each year. They work towards rehabilitating injured birds and reporting deaths to places like the Field Museum so we can best find solutions to this ongoing problem. With advocacy and awareness, we will be able to find ways of using bird-friendly glass and lighting so as not to confuse our feathered friends, and hopefully decrease the amount of fatal impacts each year.

Mammoths and Mastodons exhibit is back! It originated at the Field in 2010, did it’s thing and is now back by popular demand! Though I never know who demands these things… people said it was great but who really is demanding the re-exhibiting of a show…

I’m not complaining, just my mind is wondering. I’m tired. And reminiscing. That comes with the tired. In 2010, I was a curious steadfast tin-student of Peggy Macnamara and Mamoths came out. Lyuba, one of the best preserved mammoths in existence, was the center of the exhibit and I sat in front of her for weeks to draw her. The water-color is 22″x30″ btw. I’m surprised they let me do that to be honest.

I was drawing this from a skull in a display case at the Field Museum and this kid walks up and
Kid: Is that real?!
Me: Yeah, it’s a real skull.
(Kid starts violently tapping glass. The skull does not respond, for obvious reasons)
Kid: Maybe it’s sleeping